The Centenary Poppy Campaign at Downing St.

The school was honoured to be chosen by The Royal British Legion to plant poppy seeds in the rose garden at 10 Downing St. today as part of the Centenary Poppy Campaign.

Children this morning went to the Prime Minister’s London residence and planted poppy seeds with David Cameron to promote the nationwide appeal to cover the UK with poppies during the centenary period in commemoration of all those who lost their lives in the First World War.

The school’s representatives were confident and assured as they spoke to the Prime Minister and the assembled media about the first World War. Mr Cameron commented that the children were very knowledgeable and ‘knew their dates’, while Number 10’s digital press officer was impressed the children’s confidence and articulacy.

What made the day even more exciting was the children had no idea who they were going to meet until they turned up at the famous black door. They were taken up the grand staircase, passing pictures of every past Prime Minister, and enjoyed refreshments until the Prime Minister was scheduled to meet us.

As well as planting some seeds in the rose garden itself, we also planted some in troughs which we brought back to school to grow here.

The school would like to thank Helen and Becky from The Royal British Legion for giving us this wonderful opportunity and to the staff of Number 10 for making the children feel very welcome in such as special building. We hope we helped to heighten awareness of the campaign.

ITV covered the event: http://www.itv.com/news/london/update/2014-04-28/pm-sows-poppy-seeds-with-pupils-in-downing-street/

The Centenary Poppy Campaign at Downing St.

0 thoughts on “The Centenary Poppy Campaign at Downing St.

  • WOW! What an amazing opportunity for all the children, and a fantastic way to contribute to the Royal; British Legion’s campaign. 

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  • What a fabulous opportunity for Cathedral School – and fantastic photos. Well done to all involved!

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  • Wow, the secret’s out! What a privileged school we are to get invited to things like this.

    Well done Cathedral School for doing us proud.

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  • I hope you enjoyed your Trip it seems like you had a brilliant time!!

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  • The Day I met David Cameron
    “Please may I borrow Marjaan, Julianna, Shai, Denis and Obiora?” said Mrs Scott. Those words were how it all started…

    When we got called outside, I wondered what was happening, as I saw a group of children -from different classes- all bunched together (with Mrs Rees ;we all walked into the nurture room and Mrs Scott explained: that we will be going to plant poppies as a remembrance of the 100 years since the WW1 as well as informing us that there would be a VVIP attending this event; the only words that passed through my confused mind was: who is this VVIP… We were also told that we might be interviewed for TV. How amazing is that?
    After the whole weekend of practicing of what I might say, I woke up early to get to school for 8:00am to leave at 8:05; when I got to school my belly was churning with worry. What if I mess up my words? What if say the wrong things? What if I sat the wrong way?
    We got into the mini bus and drove to…
    I stepped on to the carpet of the Prime Minister’s house. The house was embroidered with beautiful paintings and detailed house furniture (especially the chandelier); after a juice and a chat with important people we all walked into the Prime Minister’s garden to plant poppy seeds for the Poppy Appeal.
    After a while I got to speak to the Prime Minister face to face in his own house; what more could you ask for? We planted seeds together and spoke about our school garden and The Imperial War Museum, and how it would be a great opportunity to go there for trips in school; talking to the prime minister isn’t as nerve racking as people expect, it was quite relaxing. It felt like you were talking to a person you just met but I the back of your mind you know that they’re important to the country and they deserve respect.
    I was talking to someone who works for the Prime Minister and we were talking about how people think the poppies are to remember the soldiers that died, but actually they are to remember why they died for us and the impact it has had on our lives; to think that the whole world will be thinking about those poppies is a great thing, as the poppies are partly a sign of hope for the future.

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  • I was lucky enough to go to….

    When we arrived at No.10 Downing Street in a minibus, I was so excited to plant some poppies as well as having a look around. David Cameron’s house was beautiful, eligant and most of all delicate, we were all treated very nicely when we arrived. In his house were great big beautiful chandeliers and lots and lots of lovely pictures, my favourite pictures were all the pictures of the prime ministers from the first to the present. When we actually met the prime minister, I thought I was in a dream. Thank you so much to Mrs Scott, Mr Scott, Mrs Rees and  Kim for organising the event.
     

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  • My experience when meeting David Cameron:
    When we found out that we were going to go and plant poppies for the 100th year since WW1 I was very excited and grateful that I had been specially chosen to take part in such an amazing trip. When we were told that there was going to be a vvip (very very important person) there I felt a flurry of excitement and nerves rush through me! I kept on thinking about who the vvip could be, I asked Mrs Scott and she said that the person was so important that the school didn’t even know! When it was the day we had to be at school at 8:00 am, I had to get up very early. We went on a bus to 10 Downing Street and when we got there we went inside and had some orange juice, and we sat on a chair that cost £80,000 and that was why Mrs Rees didn’t want us to sit on the chairs. Soon we went outside into the garden and we stood around some pots which had soil in them and next to them were some packets of poppy seeds. Soon we were all talking and then someoneg caught my eye, David Cameron walked right through the garden door! My heart thudded and my mouth made a big smile, I couldn’t believe that our prime minister was just a little walk away from.  He first went to the table before us and then he came over to us. He asked us what we knew about WW1 and he told us what we need to do with our poppy seeds so they can grow. When he left everybody came over and asked us questions, it was like we were celebrities ourselves! When it was time to leave we were allowed to take the flowers and we had a special souvenir, a key ring, a pom pom and a bracelet. I am happy that I got chosen and this is one in a life time experience. Thank you Mrs Scott.

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  • What did you do at the poppy planting? Was it good ? When you went there did you like it? I hope it was fun!

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  •                              My visit to number 10 Downing Street ,
                               marking the centenary of World War 1!

    How inspiring would it be to have planted Poppies in every school? 

    During World War 1, the fields of Flanders were ruined. So when the battle was over, the poppies were the only plant to grow back. To show our respect, it would be truly amazing if every school could plant the beautiful flowers, in remembrance of the World War 1 soldiers.

    How I felt throughout the whole experience.
    I felt ecstatic! It was an honour just to be chosen to plant poppies at number 10 Downing Street, but then to be asked to actually speak to the Prime Minister-David Cameron-and to plant seeds with him, talk to him, and to be interviewed to be on TV was breathtaking! Talking to the prime minister came over greeted us, we all down and felt more relaxed and confident to talk! I really thank my school for the opportunity!

    How important are poppies to the world?
    Poppies are very important because they remind us of those who fought in the battle  and risked their lives for us! They are also important because: certain companies and individuals, are trying to make people remember the soldiers and they gave their lives for us.   

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  • You are some lucky children to meet the Prime Minister. 

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  • The day I met David Cameron
    We got on the bus at 5 past 8, did a quick head count and off we went. But at that time we did not know where we where going or who we were meeting. The only thing we knew was that we where going to plant poppies at Westminster with a special VVIP. 

    To be inside Number 10 Downing street was an experience I will never forget. It was almost like everything was gold! When we got in no one said anything everybody was too busy looking around savouring the moment!

    After having a quick drink and talking to some amazing people we went outside to plant the poppies and was Mr Cameron. First he went over to the 2 groups with tables planting poppies that we were going to take back to school. Then he came over to Me, Marjaan and Julianna and we planted the poppies together

    It is an experience I will NEVER forget! Thank you Mrs Scott!

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  • I woke up at 6:30 on Monday 28 April and quickly got ready to go to school for 8:00. I was very nervous, so I brought the piece of paper with some questions on it to school, so I could revise while on the bus.

    When we got to the gates I felt even more scared. I was thinking ‘We are going to Downing Street! I never expected us to be planting poppies there!’ This was all even more exiting when we actually got to go into No 10. I was thinking then ‘ We might actually get to meet the Prime Minister!’

    When we entered the wonderful house, I just stared in amazement at all the wonderful gold plated things, especially when we went into the room upstairs, following a gallery of portraits, twisting parallel to the staircase. There was even an £80,000 carpet and an £80,000 chair there. When we got into the garden, we chatted a little bit, then we saw the Prime Minister emerge from the door. Suddenly we all fell silent, watching him. After he came to both of our tables we planted our poppies. Then, me Thomas and Dotty were called over to have our picture taken and to quickly be interviewed. We then packed up and went back on the minibus to go to school. 

    That was a very exiting day indeed.

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  • This day was one I will never forget, and I feel privileged to have had the opportunity to have visited the Prime Minster and be part of this great act of remembrance. But to start from the beginning.

    25th April 

    Lola, Jack, Oisin, Aisa, Kiran and I were all called out from class, I was worried I would be in trouble, but it was much more of an exciting experience we’d be going to Westminster to meet a VVIP. And be planting poppies for remembrance.

    26th April

    Who could the VVIP be? 

    28th April

    Sit back and relax on our specially hired mini bus. Please wait quietly as we reach the selected destination. During the journey, my friends and I were talking about how this was going to be such an amazing experience. When we realised that our final destination was 10 Downing Street and the VVIP was David Camron. WOW! Then we went into his house; he had paintings on the wall, a prime minister timeline going up his stairs, £80,000 chairs which I got to sit on. Today was awesome and it couldn’t get better. Oh wait, it did. Seeing the prime minister’s house is one thing, yet meeting the prime minister is another. So we waited for David Cameron to walk through the door and everyone could burst with anticipation. What if you messed up your lines, and made a big fool of ourselves on television. When he came and stood among us he said “Good Morning”,then we all had a talk about poppies, the Imperial War museum and about WW1. He’s really  friendly and is not like you’d expect. It was like you were having a normal conversation with a normal person. Yet it was some thing you could treasure. Thank you that the poppy was a sign of hope for the future!

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  • WW1
    1914-1918
    Britain fought in the World War One, but the question is: Who did they fight against?
    Britain fought against Germany and Austria-Hungary; however there were many more countries involved in the WW1, such as: Bulgaria, Turkey, France, Belgium, Russia, England, Italy, Japan, the United States and a lot more.
    In WW1 there were two main sides which were: the Allies, which included France, Great Britain and Russia; Italy (once part of the Triple Alliance with Germany and Austria-Hungary) fought on the side of the Allies.
    Wounds and death:
    Unfortunately by the end of the WW1 9 000 000 soldiers were killed and 21 000 000 were wounded; just think of the pain that the soldiers went through to save us. Our future. Our lives.
    Over a million soldiers were killed in the Battle of Somme alone, including 30,000 killed a day!
    Remembrance
    We must remember these soldiers, not for their death but for the effort they put in to save our future; if they hadn’t risked their lives for us we could be living in a different situation right now (at this very second)so don’t take what you’ve got for granted. Make the most of it.

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  • You should be proud to talk to the Prime Minister.

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  • Hello, guys. Long time no see. I’m really amazed that you got the opportunity to plant the poppy seeds with your Prime Minister. Well done, you all!

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